Epilogue (Extended)

It had been seven years since they officially got married, and Ceaser was loving being married to an amazing woman. Yes, they had their challenges, but there were more happy moments than others. Those hard moments were what made him realize how strong his woman was and how much his love for her continued to grow with each passing day.

Remembering everything they had gone through to get to where they were all seemed like a story, but he knew just how real they were.

Jules watched her husband from the kitchen. She didn't think it was possible to love someone the way she loved him, but yet she did, and she still wasn't over it.

Their one-year anniversary had been a result of four-year-old Ian Thompson.

"Jules!" Selene called from the poolside, where everyone was gathered.

Jules snapped out of her reverie.

"Coming," she called as she picked up the bun for the burger.

"She got caught up in her world again," Andy said when Jules joined them at the poolside.

"Like always," Sofi said, carrying her three-year-old son, Javier.

Jules rolled her eyes and went to meet Eric at the grill.

"Just in time," he said as she placed the tray of bun near the grill.

He placed the ham between each bun as she added the vegetables and cheese.

"About time," Alex said as he placed one hamburger on a plate.

"Hungry as always, I see," she said.

"Oh, I wish it were mine," he said. "It's for my p-fiancée," he stuttered, which made Jules' brows crease as she watched him take the plate to Andy.

Those two were up to something.

"Mama, play," Ian said when he saw the other kids running.

"Be careful," she said as she placed him on the ground.

Xavier picked up one plate and placed two hamburgers on it.

"For my pregnant wife," he said, wanting to justify himself.

Jules watched him take the plate to Sofi, who smiled as he approached and kissed him when he handed her the plate.

She smiled, happy to see both her friends happy.

"Can I have one, Mum?" Ivy came out of nowhere, snapping her out of her daze...again.

"Of course, honey."

"Here you go, darling." Eric handed her one before Jules could even process her thoughts.

"Thanks, Grandpa." She smiled, kissing him on the cheek, and went away happily.

Jules looked to find Eric smiling.

"You love it when she calls you grandpa, don't you?" she asked.

"I'd say no, but you'd know I'm lying," he said.

Jules watched Ceaser play with the kids: nine-year-old Ivy Thompson and three-year-old Iva Thompson in his arm. Those girls were his princesses, daddy's girls. Ian was closer to her, except it involved any male sports. Javier and Ian played together. "Attention, everyone," Alex called as every adult turned in his direction. He stood with his arms around Andy and cleared his throat before he spoke.

"We have some news," he said. "We are..."

"...expecting a child." Andy blurted out and laughed when she saw Alex's expression.

Jules beamed.

She sort of guessed.

Everyone congratulated them.

"Two more on the way," Selene said. "That's a blessing."

"A great one," Eric said, kissing the top of Selene's head.

Jules held her tongue from saying what she was about to say. She didn't want to ruin Alex and Andy's moment.

Later, when the day was passing and night approached, they all gathered in the dining room for dinner.

The table was filled with chatter from the kids as they passed the dishes to one another. Jules filled her plate with so much, she was becoming hungrier day by day. Ceaser, who sat beside her, looked at her with a raised brow.

"What?" she asked him, daring him to say something.

He just shook his head.

Good choice.

"Wow, Jules," Sofi spoke up. "Are you feeding an army?"

"No," Jules said. "Just one extra."

Everyone's eyes snapped to her smiling face.

Surprised.

"What?" Ceaser asked, scooting closer to her side.

"I'm pregnant," she said.

His expression changed, and his face lit up as he reached for her, picking her up and twirling her before he placed her on her feet.

"Are you guys planning on making a football team?" Alex asked.

"Something like that," Ceaser said.

"Well, my sympathy goes to Jules," Xavier said.

"This will be my last, hopefully," Jules said.

"We're just so happy," Selene said, coming to hug her.

Jules smiled at her and Eric as they both engulfed her.

"Mama?" Ian tugged at the hem of her dress.

"Yes?" she answered, looking at him.

"Am I having a baby brother?" he asked.

Jules smiled down at him. He must be bored to death of his two sisters.

"I think so," she said, and he smiled.

Might be a sister, though.

Half an hour later, when everyone had had dinner, they moved to the living room with wine glasses - in my case, Andy's and Sofi's, a glass of orange juice. The conversation was still flowing as the guys watched whatever gave was on. Ceaser looked at her from where he sat and smiled when he caught her lost in her thoughts. She smiled back at him, knowing he already knew what she was thinking about.

Their family, with all the problems and misunderstandings, fights and quarrels. What family doesn't have that?

It just made their bond stronger, made her fall more and more in love with Ceaser every day. And she could say the same thing for him just by looking into his eyes and seeing the love he had to grow every day; for her...and his children.

She couldn't ask for more.

Thanks for looking over me, Mum and Dad.